Dent Commits To 2010 Newport

NEWPORT, R.I., - Taylor Dent, a past champion who is always a popular player with the fans in Newport, has committed to competing in the 2010 Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, which will be held July 5 - 11, 2010 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. Tickets and holiday gift packages for the tournament are now available on www.tennisfame.com or via phone at 401-849-6053 or 866-914-FAME (3263).

To celebrate this first player commitment to the 2010 tournament field, fans who purchase $50 or more worth of tournament tickets now will also receive an autographed Taylor Dent photograph. To receive the photograph, patrons should enter the promo code TDENT2010 online or mention it over the phone. This offer is valid through December 31, 2009. Photographs will be provided while supplies last and this offer may not be combined with any other special offers.

Currently ranked No. 75 in the world, Dent made incredible strides in 2009, having started the season at No. 865 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings after being challenged with a recurring back problem in recent years. In the first week of the 2009 season, he won his first match since 2006 when he reached the second round at Brisbane. In March, he qualified for Indian Wells and advanced to the fourth round with victories over No. 20 Nicolas Almagro and No. 16 Tommy Robredo before losing to No. 2 Roger Federer. Dent entered the US Open as a wild card and posted wins over Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Ivan Navarro in a fifth-set tie-break before losing to No. 2 Andy Murray in the third round.

"Taylor has made a remarkable comeback this year. We've enjoyed following his progress and we are pleased that he will return to the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships to compete," said Mark Stenning, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. "We know that our fans always enjoy seeing Taylor on the court and we look forward to welcoming him back in July."

Dent is a four-time champion on the ATP World Tour, including his 2002 victory in Newport, when he defeated James Blake. Dent made history with the victory in Newport, making himself and his father, former Top 20 Australian player Phil Dent, the first father-son duo to win ATP World Tour titles in the Open Era.

The Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is an ATP World Tour event drawing 32 top male players to Newport direct from Wimbledon to compete for the Van Alen Cup and $442,500 in prize money. Tickets for the tournament are now available for purchase online through www.tennisfame.com or by calling the Tournament Office at 401-849-6053 or 866-914-FAME (3263).

New holiday gift packages for the tournament are now available. Retailing for just $125, Holiday Gift Packages are a value-packed way to please a sports fan with an unforgettable professional tennis experience. Packages have a value of more than $165 and include the following:

• Two tournament tickets, with a choice of either the semi-final round including the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, July 10 or the final round on Sunday, July 11 • Two admission tickets to the International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum • One book, with a choice of either 2009 Hall of Famer Monica Seles' Getting a Grip, or Pressure is a Privilege, written by sports legend and Hall of Famer Billie Jean King • Tennis Hall of Fame luggage tag • 2010 Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships commemorative program book

Complementing another exciting week of ATP World Tour tennis, special events during the tournament will include Family Weekend, Ladies Day and the Class of 2010 Induction Ceremony. The Induction Ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 10 at 12:30 p.m., prior to the tournament's men's semi-final match. Voting is currently in process for the Class of 2010, and the inductees will be announced early in 2010. A collection of doubles stars dominate the 2010 ballot which includes Recent Player doubles teams Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva, and Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. Also, joining them in the Recent Player category is Anders Jarryd. Master Player nominees are Owen DavidsonPeter Fleming and Bob Lutz, with Contributors Nick Bollettieri, Derek Hardwick and Eiichi Kawatei. Nominated in the Wheelchair Contributor Category is the sport's pioneer, Brad Parks.

For additional information, please call the Tournament Office at 401-849-6053 or 866-914-FAME (3263) or visit www.tennisfame.com.